If you could ask the most brilliant piano teachers or our time a question...

[jamie0168]

If I placed the greatest, most well-known piano professors of our time right infront of you, what would you ask them? I'm asking for your honest opinion because I'll be using this information in a research paper/presentation that I'll be doing. Keep in mind that it can concern anything relating to music... (teaching it, playing it, their experiences with it, their students, their universities, anything...)

[m19834]

"What would you do differently if you could do it all over again ?"

[mike_lang]

"Is your teaching style a result of (that is, similar to) or a reaction against your training in youth (and how so)?"

[lostinidlewonder]

Who/What where your greatest musical mentors?

[Bob]

I don't think I'd ask them much.  I don't think they would know what I want to know. 

The well known, internationally famous, yadda yadda yadda teachers focus on high elements of music.  And some just travel around doing masterclasses.  There are things they can't do -- like teach a beginner for example.  A concert artist trained, yes.  A beginner that will only practice so much? Maybe not.

I might ask if they are hiring an assistant.

[db05]

Music, piano, your students.
Which do you love the most?

Further, what do you enjoy doing the most? It may not even be music-related.

I would like to know more about their personalities because imo, that's what separates the good teachers from the truly great ones.

[m]

:

[raintree]

I'd like to hear their take on whether perfect pitch can be learned and if so the best way to teach/develop it.

RT

[Bob]

Kinda off... I mean, waaaay off.

You might know some well known and internationally famous, yadda yadda ydaa teachers  , but let me assure you, you don't know the most brilliant piano teachers of our time... otherwise, you wouldn't have written your message.

See the difference?

Best, M

I haven't met many people who can answer my questions or are close to the type of ideal teacher I want.  If it's a top-notch teacher of today, they're going to deal with a certain type of student and work on certain issues.  Those teachers are at conservatories or are out concertizing or giving seminars.  They focus on certain things.  High level things. 

If someone's a prodigy, great.  And they can teach high level things.  But they might not be able to teach nuts and bolts to beginners and intermediate students.  It's a different environment.   I just have met or heard of anyone who can do it all. 

When I "most brilliant, of our time" I'm thinking it's those high level teachers, and they still have flaws.

[m]

:

[Bob]

Brilliant is still not perfect.

I'd like to see some of the international masterclass artists teach beginners.  Or a class of beginners.  What would I ask them?  Not much.  It's not their area.  They know their thing but they don't know everything.  I doubt they could answer all of my questions.  So wouldn't bother asking them.

[rc]

I would ask the council of brilliant teachers:  "What do each of you teach the best"

...then try to become the student of the one who matches best what I want to learn

[m]

:

[Petter]

I would ask them if they knew any strategies to make piano players get along and support each other

[pianisten1989]

Brilliant is still not perfect.

I'd like to see some of the international masterclass artists teach beginners.  Or a class of beginners.  What would I ask them?  Not much.  It's not their area.  They know their thing but they don't know everything.  I doubt they could answer all of my questions.  So wouldn't bother asking them.

I really think a good teacher can teach both advanced students, and beginners.
If you haven't met a "good" teacher who can't teach beginners, then he is no good teacher, probably not even a good pianist. All pianists have this "ground" to stand on, like relaxed arms, and a bit curved fingers (or whatever their ground is), and for being a good teacher, you have to be able to teach out those stuff.

[Bob]

Yes.  I think think of some who wouldn't tolerate a beginner who doesn't practice much, that kind of student.  Or the ones who focus on expression and not the "how."  Brilliant, world class, etc. but still lacking.

[hyrst]

I'd want them to tell me about their students whom they wanted to give up on but perservered who finally succeeded in competence - like did any get past intermediate?  I would ask any experienced teacher that, though, it wouldn't have to be the ideal world's best.  Actually, I don't think there are questions of techniue, process, etc that are important to ask.  As teachers, we learn from our students, trial and error and our own  direct experience to tailor a programme for each of our students.  Each one is different.  We need a good basic knowledge of playing, a range of teaching strategies and experience with music.  I would listen to anyone who can give me new approaches in these areas. 

However, I think what is most important we all have the ability to give to one another - it is not the most brilliant person who would because their experience would most likely seem out of reach or unrelateable anyway, especially if they thought they were the best.  I believe what is most important is relationship and encouragement.  Being glad together when there are successes and cheering each other on in the low or frustrating times. 

[m]

 :

[monkeyyy]

Do you want to teach me please? 

[momopi]

Can you be my teacher? 

[pianistimo]

Since the question posed 'the greatest...' - i'd like to say that that is entirely in the eyes of the beholder.  After all, once one has completed a bachelor's degree in piano, they probably have a good idea of their own interests and peculiarities towards piano.  Asking a 'brilliant' teacher really has nothing to do with one's personal interests.  Just as with any field of endeavor - you start honing and specializing what YOU are personally interested in.  Therefore, it is less about the teacher and more about what you want.  Otherwise, you're wasting money.  Why spend a lot of money on lessons to hear something you don't want to hear or aren't interested in.

Thibaudet decided that when he went to (Paris Conserv?) that he wanted to only play Chopin.  Therefore, he probably ended up with the teacher that helped him the most with chopin. Perhaps a student of a student or something.

With these teachers, who cares if they don't take beginners (perhaps only genius child prodigies).  After all, they have paid their dues and don't want to be teaching something that someone else can do just as easily.  Playing piano is a succession of difficulties.  First you learn to listen, make tones, read music, etc - on through college - where you learn discipline and hard work.  By the time you get to master's level and beyond - the student is supposed to be the one that is self-motivated - so the goals  change.

Basically, imo, the goal is to ask the right questions.  So...what would i ask personally?  Well, i'd ask myself if i deserved to take lessons with this person.  For me it was a resounding 'no' after the first lesson (with someone who graduated from Julliard).  But, piano is a bad addiction for me.  Even if i could only learn one or two things from each lesson and fully adopt it into my playing each week - it would be worth the money of the lesson.  If you take from someone who doesn't bring up or down the level of intensity - you could be like an autistic person trying to learn from a nasa astronaut.  What's that going to get you?  A lot of frustration and probably being knocked to the side of the wall a few times. 

ps no discouragement to autistic people, btw, because some can play piano fantastically.  it's just the method is much different.  a lot of repetition.

pss sometimes not asking any question at all is good.  just letting them talk after those endless pauses.  perhaps slowing down is the students mental 'best-friend.'  i was so extremely anxious and nervous i'd forget to breathe sometimes.  just remember, these people aren't gods.  they're just regular people (we'd like to think). 

[Bob]

Interesting.  I was not aware that NASA astronauts frustrate autistic people and knock them to the side of the wall.  Good to know.  

[pianistimo]

ok.  what i meant is the nasa astronaut would get frustrated and mentally the autistic-like person (needing so much repetition) would be 'pegged' as one of those students that you don't get your hopes up on.  Therefore, there is much chance of success moreso for those students.  They assume that they will fail - but try very very hard on much easier pieces than the rest of the group.  But, when it comes time to perform the two or three pages vs. 100 pages of the really 'bright' students - the autistic person comes through with flying colors.  after all, the heights were levelled. 

so...the moral of the story is don't think too highly of yourself if you come upon a teacher like this or they will give you very very difficult music which you will then have to spend countless hours of drudgery on - whereas you could have played the 'autistic' student and had a much more pleasant experience when it came down to the wire. 

*don't try to figure this all out - money, psychology, fame, teachers, personality - just assume it's all rolled into one crazy ball and if anything breaks down - it's the teacher's fault.  after all - the student is paying the money.  (rather the student's fault for spending so much money on a pyschological evaluation - although much more pleasant through music than otherwise).  for instance, a teacher is giving you a psychological evaluation if they assign you a crazy piece of beethoven.  teacher's mental thought - 'if you can make sense of this - you ARE crazy.'  so, you pull it off like a superstar.  they think highly of you.  all is well.  you haven't played any of the last three beethoven sonatas (yet).  wait...something is breaking down here.

[m19834]

:

  For what purpose ?

[db05]

Ma'am pianistimo, you are weird. Coming to this conclusion, I don't even understand it because piano isn't about "thinking highly of yourself".

Autistic people have a gift of great focus, so long as they are interested and it is very specific, so they master 2-3 pages perfectly. I'd say by heart. I would love to have that ability. To love what you do and really amaze everyone.

I think you just have to find the teacher that suits you best. There is no teacher that is best for anyone, and I doubt an NT teacher would be of much help to a student of the spectrum, and vice-versa. Autism aside, we all have our little quirks that would drive some teachers/ students crazy.

[m]

For what purpose ?

Sign of removed message... just not to feel frustration of talking to a wall, or to some smart @$$.

Best, M

[jamie0168]

I appreciate everyone's input. Btw, let me state that by "brilliant" and the "greatest" teachers, I meant no person in particular. We each have our own opinions on who we believe to be the greatest teachers of our time and by that, I originally meant the teachers with the greatest reputations. But we all know that the greatest teachers do not necassarily have the greatest reputations. So, to you or another, the greatest would be #*%ND($ D*##$ who teaches at #)%*DVn  University. I may know him/ her, and I may not. The most important part of this post was to find questions you would ask to someone you believe has the wealth of knowledge and experience to answer your questions.

I like where you guys were headed with the beginners vs. advanced teaching. A question that popped into my mind was "What is it you wish that previous teachers would do differently for your students by the time they reach your level of teaching?"
We would certainly get many different opinions on such a question from many different people.

[m19834]

Sign of removed message... just not to feel frustration of talking to a wall, or to some smart @$$.

Best, M

Okay.  But, I was listening and, if I am a wall, I think at least I have parts that are perhaps more or less torn a bit and ready to be reshaped .  I value what you had posted.

There are also readers who do not post.

[richard black]

Well, I met one of the most brilliant etc. etc. (people tell me she is, anyway). I asked her, as far as I recall, how she was enjoying her stay in London.

[Kassaa]

Well, I met one of the most brilliant etc. etc. (people tell me she is, anyway). I asked her, as far as I recall, how she was enjoying her stay in London.

lol, who was it?

[m19834]

"Are you real ?" 

[richard black]

lol, who was it?

Eliso Virsaladze.

[icanpiano]

Why in the world is it so hard to read notes and none of you the professors are not shouting out to change the notation system?

[Bob]

Yeah... If only... I mean too bad there's nothing something out there we could just purchase and all those problems would be solved.  Especially now, like maybe some kind of software program or something.  Oh well.  I have to go fetch some water from the river.


Mmm... Mm.... Mmm...  I sure could go for some scrambled eggs too. 

[alexalin]

If you place the greatest, most well-known piano professors of our time right infront of then me  i wll ask them.Why these piano got these much popularity and who invented this piano in which century,which is the largest and smallest piano in the world.Any idea that nealy how many people are showing their interest to learn the piano.

[alexalin]

If you place the greatest, most well-known piano professors of our time right infront of then me  i wll ask them.Why these piano got these much popularity and who invented this piano in which century,which is the largest and smallest piano in the world.Any idea that nealy how many people are showing their interest to learn the piano.

[j.s. bach the 534th]

Do you want to teach me please? 

lol, my thoughts exactly

[keyofc]

I would ask them to play me their favorite pieice very slowly
and explain each technique they are using and how they teach it.

[pianowoman]

I would ask him/her what music they use for beginner teens.  My personal frustration is that all the beginner music I have found is either for older adults using old fashioned tunes that a teen cannot relate to, or for children using childish tunes and harmonies.  This is all insulting to a teenager.

[m19834]

I would ask them to play me their favorite pieice very slowly
and explain each technique they are using and how they teach it.

ooohhhhh ... that's a good one.  I would ask that, too.  I can think of lots of others, but I think it scares most people away ... hee hee.

[mike saville]

I would ask them to explain in detail what they did in the practice room (IMO this is what sets them apart). I'd also ask how they translate this into performance.

[m19834]

Yeah, in reality, everything I have said here and can imagine as asking, are things that I would like to be shown or would like to know, but I am still working on my nerves to actually ask.  At least when it comes to them actually sitting there in front of me .